A video of a spectator chewing tobacco while on a phone call during the Test match between India and New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur went viral on Thursday.  The Gutkha Man was identified as Shobit Pandey, a resident of Maheshwari Mohal in Kanpur.

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On Friday, Pandey again came to watch India play New Zealand at the stadium, but this time with a placard that read: ‘Gutka Khana Galat Baat Hai’ (Chewing tobacco is a bad habit).

Pandey has become the subject of memes. He was trolled, and even personalities like Dr Kumar Vishwas and former cricketer Wasim Jaffer shared memes about him on their Twitter accounts.

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“First of all, I would like to clarify that I wasn’t chewing tobacco. I was eating betel nut and was on a call with my friend, who was also watching the match in the same stadium but in a different stand,”  Pandey told ANI. He said it was just a 10-second call. His friend who he was talking to told him  the video had gone viral. 

Pandey said he was not embarrassed about the incident because he had done no wrong. But he is concerned that his sister, who had accompanied him to the stadium and was seen in the viral video, was receiving nasty comments from people.

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“I am getting numerous calls from media houses and other people and now I am getting irritated,” Pandey added.

On the pitch, New Zealand dominated India on the second day on Friday. Tim Southee took five wickets that helped New Zealand to hold India at 345 on Day 2. The Kiwis then continued to dominate as they ended at 129/0 after an unbeaten opening stand between Will Young and Tom Latham.

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New Zealand are currently trailing by 172 runs after Ashwin took Will Young’s wicket in the 67th over. Young went for 89 and Kane Williamson came out to bat.